Nowadays news organizations tend to take a look back at the year and post highlights and lowlights of the year. In the same manner I would like to do the same from a personal perspective.
Lowlights:
September 7, 2001: Finding out that my friend Elizabeth had passed away due to a brain tumor. When she found out in April about her tumor, she had been given 5 months to live. Somehow in the back of my mind I knew it could happen at one time or another, but I was holding out hope that she would get through this….and that somehow a revolutionary treatment could prolong her life. She was a fighter the whole time she was going through treatment. I regret that I did not see her during the last few months of her life. The last time I saw her in person was in June. I’ll remember her smile and positive attitude. It is a shame such a wonderful person had to be taken away so early in life. This was the first time I knew a young person who passed away in life. I hope I never have to experience it again.
September 11, 2001: At first I thought it must have been some dreadful accident. Then I saw the 2nd plane crash in to the 2nd building. At that point I knew something else was happening. September 11 changed all of our lives. I get an incredible sinking feeling in my stomach everytime I hear a “Breaking News” banner on the TV. In the back of my mind I know that there could be another terrorist attack in the near future, but I don’t have any control over it. I try not to think about it.
Highlights:
June 14, 2001: Seeing 3 young people become Christians at church camp. It was the last night at camp. Our camp director had been avoiding giving any type of invitation requests for people to become Christians during the sermons. However, on this particular night of camp, he did give an invitation. One of the campers in my cabin came forward to be baptized. It was a joyful time to watch a young person baptized at camp, especially when it is someone that you got to know over the past few days.
May 1, 2001: The most unusual day I ever had this year. I was riding for 24 hours on a train ride from Shanghai to Xi’an, China. During this extremely long trip I got to see the Chinese countryside. Everywhere there were farmers out picking rice and tending to their fields. I supposed that this was truly a time for knowing my place in the world. Many of these farmers I’m sure knew nothing about the outside world and probably had never seen a foreigner. From my window in the train I was really seeing China. Through this trip I found that I’ve been granted alot of opportunity in my life and I hope I never take it for granted.
All in all, I’d say that 2001 will be a year I will never forget. I did get to visit China for a 2nd time. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to go back. Unfortunately, due to the intense nature of it, I’ll probably remember the lowlights of the year: experiencing a young friend dying; and hearing of the terrorist attacks. Yet, I think I’ve learned from it. I’ve found to take every day as a gift from God. Make the most from what you’ve been given.